When figuring out which home alarm system is right for your home, you should get to know each alarm’s special quirks. You will need a system that detects the movements of intruders in your home, that’s for sure. However, when it comes to an alarm sounding randomly or because of the movements of your family and pets, it could end up driving you crazy. On top of that, many police departments have begun assessing a fine if an alarm has sounded and they are forced to respond for no reason. Their job is hard enough already. To keep a home alarm system from harassing you and your neighbors and to avoid these costly fines, follow these seven steps on how to keep an alarm from malfunctioning.
1) Keep your alarm system’s maintenance on-schedule. Like a car or computer, your alarm needs updates to run in the proper way. Find out if your home security company schedules a yearly maintenance or if you need to set it up with them.
If you have installed an alarm on your own, find out what maintenance the manufacturer recommends.
2) Alarms are usually set off by motion sensors. Keep them free of lint and dust with routine cleanings. If your housekeeper has a list of priorities, make sure this one is taken care of weekly.
3) Watch your pets. Pets are a classic way to sound an unwanted alarm. Make sure your security company has taken steps to avoid these nuisances and keep pets out of problem areas when you leave the house, or at night when you go to bed.
4) Keep windows and doors closed and locked. Since alarms are tied to entrance ways, make sure your family is not going to be the source of a false alarm. Fill in each family member on the house policy.
5) Find out how to cancel a false alarm with your home security company.
With good communication, you’ll be able to make sure the authorities are contacted in an emergency and called off in case of an accident. Remember the boy who cried wolf? That won’t happen with the police department, but after several false alarms they might think twice before declaring it an emergency.
6) Know your alarm system inside and out. If you haven’t already, find out how each part works and how the control panels operate. Have your spouse and older children learn along with you.
7) If you are going away on vacation or are frequently out of the house, keep friends or house sitters — whoever’s in charge — informed on the quirks of your system. Keeping a set of instructions in a safe place is a good idea. Of course, never leave these in an obvious place where a thief can have access to them.
By following these seven steps, you’ll keep your family safe and keep you on the good side of your neighbors and local law enforcement. Last but not least, you’ll be able to avoid the fines that will come with repeat offenses and let your home alarm system have the desired positive impact on your life.